Professional Pensions Show 2011

First written 20 September 2011

Another year. Another show.

And pension concerns show no signs of easing, or of moving off the front page of the newspapers. The fact that the Pensions Minister was willing to share his views (albeit by video) and the heads of the Regulator and PPF were there in person says much for the current climate. It’s one of admitting we know the problems but we don’t have all the answers.

The coalition government have, in my view, done a good job so far on pensions and the fact we have a Pensions Minister who knows his stuff is welcome- and unusual!

I enjoyed the initial debate on pension reform. Kevin Le Grand of Bucks is right to say we need a grand idea (he’s got the right surname for a start!) And, as the debate identified, one of the keys to this is to review how we communicate pensions.

Investment got a good airing throughout the two days, not least with the backdrop of Greece, the Euro and all things heading south. I particularly enjoyed the presentation from the senior economist at HSBC- but as that session was Chatham House rules, I can’t say more!

Well done to David Hutchins of Alliance Bernstein for making sense of asset allocation, and to Naomi Cook of the GMB for a spirited fight back to the Hutton review on local authority pensions. Not sure I agreed with Naomi but it was thought through and delivered with a good deal of passion.

Pensions and passion. There’s a thought. Not sure the two words would usually go together but the timing of this particular pensions show ensured there was plenty of both.